Energy-based treatment works by sending energy to the tissue and letting the body respond. Thread lifting works more directly. Absorbable threads are placed beneath the skin along planned lines, where they are designed to pull and fix tissue.
Because the approach is structural, the questions people bring to it are practical ones: what the threads are, what the day involves, how long recovery takes, and whether it fits a trip to Seoul. This piece takes them in turn.
At DayBeau Gangnam, thread lifting uses absorbable PDO threads. Absorbable facial threads are approved by Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) for pulling or fixing skin tissue to improve facial wrinkles. They are not meant to remain in the skin; they are absorbed gradually over time.
Which thread type is used, how many threads, and where they go are not fixed in advance. Your doctor assesses your facial structure, skin thickness and the direction in which the tissue has descended, and selects the thread type for your case.
It works mechanically. The threads pull and fix tissue where your doctor places them, so a change may be visible soon after treatment, and the result may settle over the following weeks as swelling resolves and the threads are absorbed. Timing varies by person.
Because it sets direction rather than depth, thread lifting speaks a different language from energy-based treatments such as ultrasound or radiofrequency. We describe how each energy reaches its own layer of the face in our piece on lifting energies.
It tends to come up when sagging is noticeable but still moderate: cheeks that have begun to descend, a jawline that has lost definition, nasolabial folds that are deepening, or early jowls.
Before your treatment, tell us if you are pregnant or breastfeeding; if you have a wound, an infection or severe acne in the treatment area; if you have a history of severe allergies or a neuromuscular disease; if you have taken isotretinoin (an oral acne medication) within the past 6 months; or if you have a pacemaker or another implanted electronic device.
Tell us, too, about any medication you take. We do not ask you to stop your usual medication for a cosmetic treatment, but blood thinners such as aspirin or warfarin can make bruising or bleeding more likely. Your doctor decides whether the treatment can go ahead.
The day begins with a Personal Consultant Session, where a consultant reviews your concerns, goals, travel schedule and expected downtime. Then comes the Doctor's Treatment Design: the doctor maps your lifting vectors and treatment areas, and finalizes the thread type and placement for your case.
At DayBeau Gangnam, thread lifting is always performed by a doctor. Local anesthesia is used for comfort, and you may feel pressure or tugging during the procedure. Most sessions take approximately 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the number of threads and areas.
Mild swelling, bruising or a tight sensation may last a few days, with some tenderness that settles within days. If anything lasts longer than expected, contact us.
A few instructions shape the first weeks. You can wash your face the same day. For one week, avoid strenuous exercise, alcohol, saunas and massage — except light massage on areas where the skin has dimpled. For at least 2 weeks, avoid opening your mouth wide; any awkwardness when opening your mouth or making expressions eases over time.
How long results last varies by person, depending on thread type, skin condition and aging. As the threads fully absorb, a repeat session may be suggested.
If blisters, severe pain, fever, or changes in skin color appear within a few days after treatment, contact DayBeau right away — call +82-2-2138-2225 or message us on KakaoTalk. If you have difficulty breathing or swallowing, or notice changes in your vision, seek care immediately at the nearest medical facility (emergency room). General inquiries are answered within one business day.
Thread lifting involves a short recovery period. Typical downtime is a few days, though individual experiences vary. Flight timing depends on the type of treatment and how your recovery is going. Tell us your departure date before you book, and your doctor will set the treatment order and the interval before your flight.
Your care continues after you leave. We provide aftercare guidance for hydration and sun protection, and you can stay in touch with our team through your preferred channel — WhatsApp, LINE, WeChat or KakaoTalk — for follow-up questions after you return home.
Yes. Thread lifting is sometimes combined with energy-based treatments such as focused ultrasound (Ultherapy Prime) or radiofrequency (Thermage FLX), as planned by your doctor. Threads set direction; energy works at depth. The two approach the face from different sides, and your doctor decides whether to combine them and at what interval.
What follows a lift can also reach what lifting does not — texture, density, the surface. We look at that question in our piece on what comes after a lifting treatment.
Thread lifting is structural, and structure differs from face to face. Two people with similar sagging may leave with different thread counts, different vectors, or a plan that begins somewhere else entirely.
The Personal Consultant Session sets out what concerns you, how long you are in Seoul and how much downtime your trip allows. The Doctor's Treatment Design looks at your facial structure, skin thickness and sagging vectors, then decides whether threads suit you and, if so, which type, how many and where. Because responses differ from person to person, the plan is settled after that assessment rather than before it.
Threads set a direction. The assessment decides which direction is yours.
Written by the DayBeau Gangnam Medical Team · Medically reviewed by the DayBeau Gangnam Medical Team
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